Chapter Thirty

CHAPTER THIRTY

Now Playing: Ascensionism- Sleep Token

Warm amber and woodsy oud wrap around my body like a perfectly balanced weighted blanket. The silver fissures of Nexus’ mask stand out against the dark background, grounding me in this sea of nothingness we’re swimming in.

My core aches, slick leaking down my thighs. I can’t quite remember what happened before we got here, but the lingering scents of the rest of his pack tell me this is another fevered dream about Primordial Covenant.

It’s been months since I fantasized about them. Maybe it was my body’s way of trying to cope with their absence. Now that I can feel the bonds with Nexus and Nebula in my heart, all of my buried longing is rushing back to the surface.

Watching them practice in their home studio every night for the past four days hasn’t helped the recurrence of my obsession with their band either. Their mannerisms are too similar to their stage presence to pretend they aren’t the same men whose music sets my soul aflame.

The heated, bedroom eyes they give me throughout each performance don’t help matters much. My perfume has flooded their studio, permanently embedding itself in the soundproofing panels installed on the walls.

Not a single one of them has complained, though. If anything they seem to be thrilled to surround themselves with my scent.

Need rages through my body as I remember the way they’d moved around the room last night. When Nebula had stalked across the room to press a messy kiss to Callisto’s lips while they’d played, I’d nearly come on the spot. These men are dangerous for my heart and my wardrobe.

Warm hands meets the bare skin of my waist, slipping down to cup my mound. A whimper slips through my parted lips as I jerk my hips up against the heat. Silently pleading for more. For release.

“Are you having naughty dreams, gorgeous?” His voice is so close, too close to match the image of him still floating before me. I turn my head, but nothing changes. “You want me to take care of you, Omega? Open those pretty green eyes for me.”

Open my eyes? Following his command, I blink. Once, twice, before the soft light of my nest swims into focus. The warmth of Nexus’ arm around my waist and resting between my thighs wasn’t just part of the dream. He literally has his hand in my sleep shorts.

Part of me, the pieces still upset by him leaving me last time I was in heat, protests his actions. They demand I push him away and take care of myself. The needier, omega part of me takes control though. He’s our alpha. It’s his job to take care of us.

“Nex,” I whine, my hips grinding against his palm.

The bed shifts as he leans up on one elbow so he can see my face. “Good morning, sweet girl.” His lips press to my temple, lingering there. “What do you need me to do? You want my fingers? My mouth?” He doesn’t offer his cock or knot, waiting for me to be ready to take that step outside of us bonding to save my life.

“I-I don’t know, I–”

“Okay,” he whispers. His fingers dip lower, swirling in the slick pooling in my underwear before circling my clit. When I’m writhing in his arms, quietly asking for more, he slides two thick digits into my core.

The small stretch feels amazing, and it gets even better when his knuckles rub against the spot where his knot would swell. I clench down around him, trying to pull him in further.

“Such a sweet little cunt, trying to lock around me. My needy girl deserves an orgasm to rock her world this morning, doesn’t she?”

“Please,” I beg.

His thumb presses harder against my clit while his fingers drag in and out of me. It’s exquisite pleasure, but I need more. I need– “Nexus!” I mewl. He bites his bond mark hard enough to send me flying over the edge. Shooting stars burst across my vision as I explode around him, squeezing so tight he can barely move his fingers.

“There you go. That’s my perfect girl, coming so prettily for your Alpha.”

He brings me down slowly until I’m relaxed and panting beside him. My eyes are riveted to him as he brings his hand from my shorts and licks my release from his fingers. The obscene image has my thighs tensing with another wave of arousal.

“Fucking delicious.” He smirks down at me, his rich brown eyes full of a hunger I’m sure is reflected in my own green orbs.

A knock at the nest door stops us from taking things further. Something I know I will be grateful for later, no matter how annoying I find the disruption now. “Rise and shine, breakfast is waiting!” Nebula calls through the wood.

I glance across the room to the small digital clock I’d put on the bookshelf. How is it already almost time for us to leave for their show?

“Come on, gorgeous, let’s go eat. Then you can grab a quick shower before we have to head to Buffalo.” Nexus crawls off the bed, his bubbly ass swaying with each step forward. Damn, do I love his ass. My omega preens each time she sees it, urging me to sink my teeth into the pale flesh.

When he chuckles, my eyes fly to his. He’s watching me over his shoulder with a sultry smirk stretched across his lips. I toss one of the many pillows at him, ignoring the way my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

It’s been a task getting used to the connection between us. I’m getting better at not flooding him with my every emotion, but it isn’t something I’ve mastered yet. Hopefully, I can control myself during their show tonight so he isn’t rocking a hard-on for the crowd.

An hour later, we are climbing into one of the label’s cars with two members of the guy’s security team. Their masks are carefully packed in a box in the back for them to put on when we reach the outskirts of Buffalo. It’s only a five hour drive, so they opted to skip using their tour bus for the trip.

Something I am fine with. I don’t know if I’m ready to face the memories we have there. Not when my head is still a convoluted mess about everything that has happened between the five of us.

“So,” Nebula says a few minutes after we’ve started driving. “Since we will be so close, we thought we could rent a car tomorrow and drive up to visit Niagara Falls.”

“Have you ever been?” Callisto asks.

“The Powell’s took Bea and I once, the summer after our second year at the academy. Every time we had a longer break they’d take time off and we’d go on little road trips like that. What about the four of you? Have you visited the park?”

“We have not,” Callisto admits with a shy smile. “Silly since it’s only a few hour’s drive from Starburgh. We just haven’t made the time for the trip yet.”

“We should definitely go then. It’s beautiful! And there are a few awesome food spots State side we could visit too.” I grin at him. When Bea and I had gone we’d visited this cute little food truck that serves an awesome Peri Peri chicken! I bite back a giggle imagining Nexus trying it. My alpha mate deserves a little pain to make up for leaving me, doesn’t he?

“I’ll book the car,” Nebula agrees. He pulls out his phone and quickly gets distracted planning our side trip.

We enjoy the rest of the drive to Buffalo playing silly games like Would You Rather or the Alphabet game. As we approach the edge of the city, Titan shifts back and grabs the box with their masks. Tucked inside are also zip-up hoodies in their size.

A shiver runs up my spine as they pull the masks on, obscuring their faces and pulling me back into the illusion their music creates. No longer am I sitting among the men of Pack Graves, it is Primordial Covenant with me now.

Nexus gives me a Cheshire grin when he senses the flow of appreciation and arousal in our bond. Heat floods my cheeks, most likely turning my skin bright red. I didn’t even think about how our connection would let him feel exactly how much I love them with their masks on.

“Does being surrounded by masked men turn you on, gorgeous?” His question is voiced in a husky tone that shoots straight to my core. A small burst of perfume leaks into the air around me, making me blush harder.

I choke out a laugh when Nebula’s hand smacks against the back of Nexus’ head. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Like you aren’t thinking the same thing,” he pouts, lower lip jutting out dramatically. Nebula growls, snapping forward to slam their lips together. I watch with wide eyes and soaked panties as he sucks his lip between his teeth and bites down hard enough for Nexus to groan wildly.

Another burst of perfume floods the back seat. All four men shift in their seats, subtly trying to adjust themselves. Well, three men. Nexus blatantly grips himself beneath his sweats, making sure we all get a good look at exactly how turned on he is.

Nebula winks as he turns back to the front and slips his mask down over his head.

“Touchdown in ten,” one of their security guards coughs awkwardly, breaking up the growing tension between us.

If my seat could swallow me whole, now would be a great time to escape this embarrassing situation. They can probably smell my arousal too. Stupid omega reactions. Couldn’t Fate have made it easier for us to hide how needy we always seem to be?

The mid-sized venue they are playing in has an old theater feel on the outside, but the inside has a modern punk aesthetic. Three levels of viewing are available, and access is aided by the dual monitors framing the stage. It’s a nice little setup, but not one I would enjoy as a photographer. Getting shots from the crowd here would mean getting up close and personal with their fans.

Seeing the waiting crowd outside makes me glad I opted to only attend to watch and not to work. Being surrounded by so many people would certainly make me spiral.

I linger at the edges of the room while the guy’s makeup artist Aurora gets to work painting Titan’s chest. Tonight’s show is them and another artist from the label, who are already out by the stage getting ready for their performance.

I’m excited to see the guys in action but also dread watching them on stage. Sitting in on their practices over the past several days was torture enough. I don’t know if I will be able to control myself after their show tonight. I may jump one of them as soon as we get back to the dressing room!

Sometimes when my libido spikes high like this I feel like Bea is somehow channeling all of her extra sexual energy my way. Especially with Ridley and Lex still off chasing Doctor Harrison. The number of stir-crazy, half-concocted plans I’ve had to shut down via text and video call the past week would be alarming if I didn’t know Mr. Acherley has my best friend under lock and key while she’s staying in his apartment.

Thinking of my bestie, I pull out my phone and send her a quick picture of the guys. ‘Remind me why I thought this was a good idea?’

After sending the text, I slip my phone back into the pocket of Callisto’s hoodie I borrowed before we left. She won’t be able to answer until later. She is attending an event with the other upper level managers and executives from Soulbound Echo Studios.

All except for Brady, who I’m certain planned tonight’s show purely so he could avoid a night of dressing up and schmoozing. Not that I blame him, I’d rather be here too. The man himself knocks at the door half an hour later. “Let’s get you guys into the wings.”

I trail behind the pack as they head toward the stage. The two bodyguard drivers fall into step behind me. Brady had quickly assigned them to tail me after we arrived. I’m glad to have their protection, though I feel bad for taking them away from their actual jobs.

Before they take the stage, Nexus stops to press a kiss to my cheek. I suck in a sharp breath when the glossy edges of his mask dig into my skin. The grin he gives me as he walks backward away from me, his feathered cape swaying around his ankles, tells me he knows exactly what he is doing to me. And he is loving every second of it.

My feigned annoyance disappears as their set begins. Poetic lyrics sung over dark beats filter through the venue. The crowd cheers and sings along, getting as lost in their music as I am.

Nothing else exists when a Primordial Covenant song is playing.

The joy we’re feeling shatters when a scream echoes through the crowd. One of panic and pain. A single breath and the entire place devolves into chaos. Venue security swarms the crowd, while the guy’s personal security moves onto the stage to pull them off. Backstage staff fly by me in a panic, shouting orders to each other.

When a large group of fans makes their way past the front of the stage, storming the wings, I’m jostled toward the back. Both of my temporary bodyguards bark orders at the crowd to try to reach me, but the torrent of terrified people have pushed us too far apart.

As soon as the crowd bursts through the back door, I separate myself. If I wait by our car, I’m sure the guys or my guards will find me.

“Perfect timing,” a grating voice coos in my ear. An arm wraps around my throat and I’m dragged backwards through rows of staff vehicles. “You’ve been a very difficult omega to capture.”

‘Patient #1396. Sarah Montgomery. Omega.’ In my panic, all I can hear is Doctor Harrison’s voice ringing in my ears when I was dragged out of the van in New Hampshire several weeks ago.

But I’m not that broken omega anymore. My body may not be back to full strength, but I’m not weak enough to give up easily. I twist my limbs, fists thumping against the person behind me.

Opening my mouth, I try to scream, but pressure on my windpipe cuts off my oxygen. “They can try to save you, but their efforts won’t matter. Your purpose doesn’t lie here, bathing in sin with these devils. No, He has other plans for you. Plans you will follow, willing or not.”

The cloying scent of moldy fruit fills my mouth as I try to suck in a breath. It’s familiarity has me fighting harder. My brother’s wife, Jacquelyn, only laughs as I try to claw at her arm. When that doesn’t work I try dropping my weight to shake her grip on me, but a man steps around her and grabs my feet, hoisting me back into the air.

“Stop moving,” he barks. His scent isn’t one I recognize, so I assume he’s hired help or another of my birth father’s many followers.

Realizing my efforts aren’t getting me anywhere, I focus on the bond thrumming in my chest. Nexus’ worry and Nebula’s anger flow into me, but I force myself to concentrate on sending them blast after blast of panic and horror. It’s as close to a distress call as I can make without access to my voice or phone.

“It’s funny really, all of your efforts to escape your Fate have been for nothing. You’ll realize your mistakes as soon as we get you home.”

Home? What the fuck is she talking about? The Feds took control of the church and every other asset belonging to the Montgomery family. They can try to take me back to New Hampshire if they want, all that will do is get them caught and charged with kidnapping.

The sound of an idling vehicle nearby renews my struggle, both physically and internally as I pull harder on my bonds. My vision is starting to swim with black dots, the lack of oxygen growing dangerous. If I don’t find a way to loosen her grip I will pass out soon, and that won’t be good at all.

A door bangs open in the distance, sparking a flame of hope in my heart. I can sense my mates getting closer. Despite Jacquelyn’s adamant claim, they won’t be able to rescue me, they’re coming. Slapping my hands backward, I dig my nails into her cheek, clawing at her eyes. She stumbles, nearly dropping me.

I can feel the shift of attention seconds before anything happens. My mates are here. “Freeze!” Nebula’s sharp bark slices through the air like a whip, stalling my captors in their tracks. I can feel them both trying to fight against it, their limbs twitching violently, but they can’t overpower my pissed-off alpha.

I wrench myself free from their grasp, ignoring the pain shooting through my shoulder as I crash to the asphalt, I scramble to my feet and take off running. My lungs burn, and tears blur my vision, so I let my heart guide me.

Pounding footsteps come from behind me, but they’re drowned out by the shouts of my pack and their security staff ahead of me.

The acrid scent of vanilla and tobacco smoke reaches me seconds before I slam into a hard chest. Nebula’s arms wrap tight around me, holding me against him. My head knocks against his mask where it is still in place on his head, but neither of us tries to remove it. Right now, I need the safety of his arms more than I need to feel his cheek pressed to mine.